Steaming apparatus.



No. 887,628. PATENTED MAY 12, 1908.

J. HALL.

STEAMING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21, 1907.

2 SHBETSSHEET l.

A rmR/v rs No. 887,628. PATENTED MAY 12, 1908. J. HALL.

STEAMING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

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ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES Pa rENT ornronf.

JOHN HALL, OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 'lO UNITED STATES CONSOLIDATED SEEDED RAISIN COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

STEAMING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JouN HALL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Fresno, in the county of Fresno and State of California, have invented a new and Improved 'Steaming Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to steaming apparatus, and is particularly useful in connection with devices of this character used for preparing fruit and the like for the removal of the seeds therefrom preparatory to drying or preserving the fruit.

The object of the invention is to provide a steaming apparatus of simple, strong and durable construction in which the fruit is subjected to the action of dry steam for a suit able period, and from which the same is subsequently disclnirged in a proper condition for removing the seeds or pits.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the fruit is advanced in the apparatus while being subjected to the action of dry steam, in which the moisture from. the condensation of the steam is constantly withdrawn, and in which the material is at the same time subjected to the action. of heat from a steam coil or other similar and suitable appliance.

The invention consists H] the construction and combination of parts to be more partieularly pointed out hereinafter and fully set forth in the claims. 1

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section. also showing portions broken away; Fig. 2

is an enlarged transverse vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is avertical longitudinal section of a detail of the advancing mechanism; Fig.4 is a transverse vertical section of the same detail; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of a part of the device, showing portions broken away.

Before proceeding to a more detailed explanation of my invention, it should be understood that it is of advanta e to subject fruit such as raisins, prunes anil the like to certain processes, whereby the same is subjected to dry steam heat which renders the fruit adaptable to the seeding or pitting operation wherein the fruit is freed from the seeds or pits. Preferably, the steam should be as dry as possible, as the moisture tends Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 21, 1907. Serial No. 363,669.

Patented May 12, 1908.

to cause the seeds to adhere more closely to the enveloping material of the fruit. For this purpose I provide a collecting pan in my steaming apparatus, wherein the moisture from the condensing steam gathers and from which it may be drawn oll' constantly during the operation. Furthermore, I provide a steam coil which heats the device lnteriorily and is of assistance in maintaining the steam in a uniformly dry condition.

Referring more articularly to the draw ings, 1 re )rcsents the supporting members of a suitable frame-work of Wood or other proper material.

Upon the supportingmemers 1 1s mounted a casing 2 pre erably of the form shown most clearly in Fig. 1 and of wood, sheet-iron or other. suitable material. If the casing 2 is constructed of wood it should preferably have an inner lining 40 of tin or other suitable metal to insure that the casing is water-tight. The upper part of the casing 2 is provided near one end with a hopper 3 of suitable form for introducing t e ruit or other material into. the device. R0- tatably mounted within the casing in suitable bearings are shafts 4 and 5 near opposite ends of the a paratus. Rigid with the shafts 4 and 5 are rums 6 and 7 constructed in the usual manner, of wood, metal or the like. Ri id with the shafts 4 and 5 and near the cm s of the drums 6 and 7 are toothed wheels 8, two of the Wheels being provided on each shaft, one near each end of each drum. Endless chains 9 and 10 are mounted on' the toothed wheels and engage with the teeth of said wheels, certain of the links 11 and 12 of the o )posite chains being provided with lateral extensions 13 and 14, to which are secured transverseangle-irons 15,b riveting or in any other suitable manner. he angleirons are so arranged that the lower flange is horizontal and the other flange at right angles with thelower flange in a vertical position, as ap ears most clearly in Fig. 3. Secured to tie angle-irons 15 by riveting, or any other way suitable for the ur ose, are wooden slats 16 extending near y rom one chain to the o posite chain and having the upper surface ush with the edge of the vertieal flange of the angle-iron. An endless conveyer belt 17, preferabl of a screen material, is mounted over the rums 6 and 7 and is secured in place on the slats 16 by tacks 18 or other suitable means. Between ad acent slats the conveyer belt is secured to links of .the opposite chains by means of clips 19.

- passes over them and to prevent its sagging.

. -the pan 26 is a heating coil 32 ada ted to '55 away underneat Located underneath the conveyer belt 17 andextending into the casingis a steam pipe 23, communicating with a steam supply, and provided on the side remote from the conveyer elt with a plurality of openings 24 to permit the escapeof steam therefrom. The steam pipe'23 is further rovided with a valve by means of which t e flow of steam from the pipe 23 can be suitably regulated. Suitably mounted upon supports 25 Within the casing is a collecting pan 26 of sheet'met'al or the like and having its lowest point near the center, the ends being inclined upwards to render the collecting pan shallower near the extremities and to permit the condensed steam therein to flow near the central point, at which is located a discharge pipe 27 through which the collecting moisture may be drawn off as desired. The bottom of the collecting pan has a plurality of openings 28 provided with u wardly projecting tubular extensions 29 having the upper ends substantially flush with the edges of the pan. Mounted above the tubular extensions 29 are caps 30 projecting laterally beyond the extensions 29 and ofiset thereabove. The caps are held rigidly in place by means of'fingers 31 secured to the'caps and to the extensions 29. The capsare pyramidal in form with the apex axes upward in order to deflect any material falling from the conveyer, into the pan.

Mounted within the casing and underneath communicate with the steam supp y and having a'valve 33 to regulate the amount of steam flowing therethrough. It will be understood that the heat from? the heating coil rises and passes through the openings 28 heat rising from the i that would otherwise .in the collecting pan to the material on the conveyer belt thereabove, whereby this material is subjected not only to the steam flowmg from the steam pi e 23 but as well to the eating coil. The arrangement of the openings, tubular extensions and caps is such that whilethe heat from the heating coil 32 can pass freely therethrough, anysugar dripping fromthe fruit upon the conve er belt, or stems and mother refuse falling t erefrom cannot pass through the openings and fall upon the heating coil below, and thus the material is prevented from becoming tainted by the odoror refuse. i

The end of the device 0 posite to that provided with the ho per 3 is left open and-is cut as appears most clearly arise from' burned sugar in Fig. 1, so that a shaker 34 or other conveying means can be arranged under the end v a horizontal shaft 38 mounted upon supporting brackets 39. The shaft 38 may; be driven in any suitable manner from the prime mover.

' Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent: I

1. In adevice of the class described, a casing, means for'advancing the material within said casing, a steam pipe within said caslng under said advancing means and-adapted to permit the escape of steam on the side of said pi e remote from said advancing means, a co lecting pan adapted to receive the condensed steam from said steam pipe and located thereunder, and a heating coil under said collecting pan.

2. A device ofthe class described, compris ing a casing, 31 conveyer belt within said casing, means for driving said conveyer belt, a

steam pipe within said casing adapted to permit the escape of steam from the side of said pipe remote from said conveyer belt, means or heating said casing interiorly, and a collectingipan adapted to receive the condensed steam om said steam pipe, said collecting pan having means for permitting the passage of heat therethrough, and means preventing the passage of liquid therethrough in the opposite direction, said collecting pan further aving the bottom inclined from the ends toward the center,

3. A device of the class described, comprising a casing, drums mounted within said casing, a conveyer belt mounted upon said drums, means for driving one of said drums, a steam pipe in said casingand having an opening on the side remote om said belt to permit the escape of steam, a collecting an under said steam pipe, and a heatin 00' on the side of said an remote from sai belt.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a casing, drums mounted within said casing, a conveyer belt mounted upon said drums, a roller to support said belt, between 'said drums, means for driving one of said said drums, means for driving one of said drums, a steam pipe under said belt and havin an opening on the side remote from said be t to permit the escape of steam, a collecting pan under said steam pipe and a heating coil under said pan, said pan having an opening in the bottom thereof with an upwardly projecting tubular extension having an offset cap above said extension and extending therebeyond.

6. A device of the class described, comprising a casing, means for advancing material within said casing and means for discharging the material therefrom, a steam pipe within said casing adapted to permit the escape of steam on the side of said pipe remote from said advancing means, means for heating said casing interiorly, and a collecting pan between said steam pipe and said heating means, said pan having a plurality of openings in the bottom thereof, said openings having upwardly projecting tubular extensions, saidextensions having mounted thereabove ointed caps over said extensions and with t e edges extending laterally beyond said extensions- 7. In a device of the class described, a casing, drums mounted within said casing and having teeth, chains engaging with said teeth, a conveyer b'elt secured to said chains, means for driving one of said drums, a steam pipe within said casing adapted to permit the escape of steam on the side of the said pipe remote from said belt, and means for heating the said casing interiorly.

8. In a device of the class described, a

casing, drums mounted within said casing, a

belt mounted upon said'drum's and consisting of a screen material, a steam pipe within said casing adapted to permit the escape of steam on the side of said pipe remote from said belt, means for heating said casing interiorly and means for discharging condensed steam from said casing.

9. In a device of the class described, a casing, drums rotatably mounted within said casing, toothed wheels rigid with said drums,

chains mounted upon said toothed wheels,

transverse slats secured to said chains, a belt secured to said transverse slats and passing over said drums, said drums having longitudinal recesses adapted to receive said slats, means for driving one of said drums, a steam pipe within said casing adapted to permit f the escape of said steam on the side of said pipe remote from said belt, means for heating said casing interiorly and means for discharging condensed steam from said casing.

10. In a device of the class described, a casing, drums rotatably mounted within said casing, toothed wheelsyrigid with said drums, chains mounted upon said toothed wheels,

transverse slats secured to said chains, a belt secured to said transverse slats and passing over said drums, said drums having longitudinal recesses adapted to receive said slats, means for driving one of said drums, a steam pipe within said casing adaptedto permit the escape of said steam on the sideof said pipe remote from said belt, aheating coil underneath said steam pipe, and a collecting pan between said steam pipe and said heating coil, said collecting pan having an opening in the bottom thereof, said opening having an u wardly projecting tubular extension provide with an offset cap thcreabove and projecting laterally therebeyond.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN HALL.

Witnesses:

D. A. CASLINE, GEO. B. GRAHAM. 

